TAKEDOWN’S ascendence was confirmed this weekend when a couple of thousand students, hipsters, beautiful people and a smattering of goths gathered for the third time at Southampton University.

Takedown is primarily alternative rock and the running order of the bands playing across five stages was as carefully thought out as guests at a wedding reception, each stage thoughtfully grouping similar genres so that favourite bands were not missed.

But even with staggered stage times Takedown is an iceberg festival, you regretfully only get to see about a third of the bands playing.

Advance Promotions are renowned for supporting local music, Western Sand being one such band. It was nice to see how they have grown since touring with Black Star Riders last year. They delivered a fast, tight set of their own brand of southern rock.

A quick dash across to the Jagermeister Stage to catch the end of Fearless Vampire Killers and then back to the Total Rock for The Howling, who delivered a positively possessed set of heavy riffs.

A scramble downstairs to the Introducing Stage to catch The Smoking Hearts, in your face aggressive rock, conveyed with more energy than a Duracell battery. Also seen on this stage was Portsmouth band Dendera, whose future looks promising as surely frontman Ashley Edison has the potential to become one of the great voices of rock.

For me the band of the festival was the gentleman hipster of alternative metal, Jamie Lenman.

He delivered a high energy set of head-banging tunes that drew the crowd in like moths to a flame.

The Black Spiders always deliver humour wrapped in classic rock and today was no exception.

Funeral for a Friend wrapped up the evening on the Jagereister Stage and the ongoing delay on the Total Rock stage meant that final act of the day Heavens Basement was packed to capacity.

The vibe of the day was goodnatured friendliness, camaraderie, laughter and greetings.

This is an intimate festival for likeminded people, and the Takedown team did a wonderful job organising it and worked hard behind the scenes to deliver a fine festival.